Pneumatosis intestinalis due to rotavirus infection in a child with Prader-Willi syndrome.

Pneumatosis intestinalis (PI) is a radiographic finding that is defined as the presence of gas within the bowel wall regardless of the cause. PI is less common and has a good prognosis after the first year of life1. A large variety of underlying diseases are associated with PI in children. Among the triggering conditions, gastrointestinal infections are common. Rotavirus infection as a cause of PI has been reported rarely2-4. Prader-Willi syndrome (PWS) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by low muscle tone, short stature, cognitive disabilities, incomplete sexual development, increased appetite, and obesity. Patients with PWS are prone to sudden death, but the pathophysiologic mechanisms underlying the sudden death are not completely understood5. We report an eight-month-old girl with PWS whose clinical condition deteriorated rapidly and who developed PI during the course of rotavirus gastroenteritis.